Getting Around

by Holly Beretto  •  July 1, 2016

Greenlink has long been an option for savvy Downtown dwellers and visitors alike. Now, the free shuttle bus service has added new service, meaning you have even more options for getting where you need to go.

The Greenlink Orange Route begins at the Toyota Center and makes 18 stops around the city. The services run in the evenings on Thursday and Friday, and from nearly all day on Saturday and Sunday. Here are some highlights of what you can do along the route. (View route)

Stop #3: GreenStreet
Your one-stop for shopping, dining and entertainment, this is the place to be for happy hours, weekend excursions and dinner with friends. Grab your bowling shoes and challenge your pals to a set at Lucky Strike, catch a concert at House of Blues, get your fashion on at Forever XXI. Enjoy a margarita at Guadalajara del Centro, dine on fresh seafood at McCormick and Schmick’s, don’t miss the pork chop at III Forks. No matter what you’re looking do, you’ll find it here at GreenStreet.

Stop #4: Main Street Square
Need to connect to the Museum District or get up to the University of Houston Downtown? Here’s where you can jump on the METRO Rail Red Line. But Main Street Square itself offers plenty of excursions. The Art Blocks are here, and they are a visual feast. Pop into Springbok for South African fare or into Corner Bakery Café for more casual cuisine. Or, simply enjoy where you are, with the square’s stunning landscaping, fountains and sculptures.

Stop #7: Theater District
Your evening on the town begins here, with curtains going up all over Houston’s Theater District. The Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera and multiple smaller classical ensembles take the stage at the Wortham Theater Center. Broadway blockbusters and Houston’s own Theatre Under the Stars perform at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The Society for the Performing Arts presents eclectic artists from around the globe; SPA and the Houston Symphony take up residence in Jones Hall. There’s also the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre. To complete your evening of culture, visit one of the District’s many restaurants, from Artista in the Hobby Center to Birraporetti’s adjacent to the Alley, to any of the options in the bustling Bayou Place.

Stops #9-#13: Historic District
Houston history unfolds at your feet along these five stops, offering endless options for entertainment. At Stop #11, you’re at the heart of Houston’s beginning, at Allen’s Landing. Here, you can see the spot where the Allen Brothers founded the city. It’s also the place where you can rent kayaks and bicycles and tour Buffalo Bayou Park, by land or by water. The Sunset Coffee Building houses the rental space for the crafts. From this epicenter, you’re a short block away from Market Square Park. In the evenings, take in bingo games or movie nights. You can grab a glass of wine at La Carafe, one of the oldest buildings in the city, enjoy casual Greek fare at Niko Niko’s, sample Southern comfort food at Treebeard’s and let your pooch play in the dog run. Public arts is all over the park, allowing you to meander and be surprised by murals and mosaics and more.

Stop #16: Minute Maid Park
Root for the home team when the Astros are in town. Greenlink lets you off right at the ballpark, where you can shop in the fan shop, buy or pick up your tickets for games, or get a behind-the-scenes tour of the beloved facility. Using Greenlink to get here is the perfect way to get a street-level feel for the restaurants and bars where pre- and post-game celebrations are happening.

Stop #18: Discovery Green
One of Downtown’s most popular parks, there’s always something happening at Discovery Green. Drop in for a fitness class, see a movie on the lawn, enjoy happy hour on the patio at The Gove, or kayak on the lake. You can jog the park trails, let the kids jump through fountains to cool off, check out a book at the library annex or take in a concert or performance under the stars.

GreenLink Orange Route Hours:
Thursday-Friday: 6:30 pm-midnight

Saturday: 9 am-midnight

Sunday: 9 am-6 pm